Work Text:
The second princess was born on a dreary August day, when the weather couldn’t quite decide whether it was fall or summer. The clouds, blown in from the sea, made the world feel darker.
In it all, the little princess stood out all that much more.
She was bright pink, from her hair to her toes. She didn’t cry much, instead staring up at the world around her with bright, wide eyes.
The people celebrated. Many of them gathered around to see the hatching, all filled with hope for the future.
The elder princess stood on her toes to see her little sister over her dad’s arms. Her nose scrunched in displeasure as she stared down at the tiny trolling. “She’s so little,” she commented bluntly, like it was a personal affront.
Some other trolls gasped in offense, but her dad just laughed. “Yes, she is,” he agreed. He shifted, lowering his arm so she could see a little bit better.
Viva’s eyes darted up at him. “Someone might step on her,” she warned. “She’s too little.”
King Peppy let out a hearty laugh. Viva’s face scrunched in displeasure at being laughed at. “Oh, mi vida, I doubt that will happen,” he said lightly.
The little princess’ brows furrowed. “Why not? She’s little- they won’t see her.”
Her dad just smiled, gently guiding his eldest closer so she could see her little sister. “Because, mi vida, you’re going to protect her.”
She blinked in confusion. “I am?”
He nodded. “Yes,” he confirmed. “You’ll protect her. Just like a superhero. You’ll protect her from all the big kids and bullies.”
Her eyes widened. “Like a superhero?” She asked curiously.
King Peppy smiled, pulling her up into his lap with his other arm. “Yes, mi vida, a superhero.”
Viva blinked at him before looking down at the wide, curious eyes looking up at her. “Hi Poppy,” she greeted. “I’m Viva. I’m gonna protect you.”
The little trolling smiled brightly, letting out a melodious giggle as she reached for her sister.
Viva took her little fingers in her own, face alight with awe.
With the whole village as her witness, she swore to protect her baby sister with everything she had. Not even the bergens would be able to hurt her.
—
Viva watched closely as her sister laid on her stomach in their little pod. She was an interesting little critter- she got easily distracted by bright lights and happy noises, and she would coo and giggle at everything.
“You know,” Viva told her. “Superheroes have capes. If I’m going to be your superhero, I’m going to need a cape.”
Like she did for everything, Poppy just giggled.
Viva nodded as if they’d shared a solemn truth. “It’ll have to be green,” she decided. “So I can use it to hide from bad guys in the tree- like how Nightflier uses his dark cape to hide in the shadows.”
Poppy smiled brightly at her. Though their dad said Poppy couldn’t understand her yet, Viva was sure she was listening.
“Viva!” He called from the other room. Speaking of Dad. “Why don’t you come here a moment?”
She glanced over her shoulder to where he called from and turned back to her baby sister with a sigh. “It’s a hard job being a superhero and a princess,” she commiserated.
Poppy smiled and babbled at her.
“Don’t worry,” Viva promised. “I’ll protect you from this, too.”
She pushed herself up onto her feet and began walking away when she heard a displeased cry.
She turned around to see her baby sister pushing herself up, trying to get her paws under her. Her tiny face was pinched in determination, her tail straight up in focus.
“Daddy!” Viva called excitedly. “Daddy, Poppy’s gonna crawl!”
He burst into the room quickly, still holding a scroll he had been reading.
In front of both of them, Poppy managed to get all her paws underneath her. She looked up with a happy smile and then back down at her paws, her expression very determined as she picked up one paw and moved it forwards- right towards Viva.
Of course, she tumbled to the ground not long after that, but Viva was overjoyed. Her baby sister had taken her first steps towards her.
—
They were running. The tunnels had gotten finished early, so they were running. Not fast enough. Not soon enough.
The bergens would be wanting to start their feast soon. They wanted to eat Poppy.
Viva was running. Poppy was in her hair- safe. Viva would protect her.
Viva stopped, glancing back at the trolls behind her, struggling to make it. She turned to the troll next to her and pulled Poppy out of her hair. “Give her to my dad!” She ordered.
He was too far to hear her if she yelled. But, if he was given Poppy, he would know. Viva always protected her baby sister- if they were ever separated, something was wrong.
And something was wrong. Viva had to be someone else’s superhero. She had to protect the other trolls. It was her job as princess.
She doubled back to check on the small group when a shovel burst through the ground behind her.
The group yelled in terror as the roof of the tunnel collapsed, exposing them to bright yellow eyes.
Viva pulled her cape tighter around her shoulders. She had to be a superhero- she had to save them. Then, she could get back to her baby sister and protect her too.
She jumped, claws outstretched, at the attackers.
—
Years passed before she saw her sister again.
Her cape became camouflage- a safety item. She protected her people as their princess, no longer believing in stupid things like superheroes.
Her baby sister was no longer a baby. She wasn’t even a princess anymore, she was the queen.
But Viva was still her big sister. Viva had promised to protect her.
Poppy looked her in the eyes (which were no longer filled with the same wonder they used to have) as she left the course. “I don’t need you to protect me,” she said.
She didn’t know how much that hurt.